In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Brazil
Mostardas
Skip unless you have a car and want a quiet beach day or to visit Lagoa do Peixe National Park: half a day from Porto Alegre, one night if you birdwatch.
Mostardas is a small coastal town in Rio Grande do Sul, 170 km southeast of Porto Alegre. It has a handful of 19th-century lighthouses and sits next to Lagoa do Peixe National Park, a wetland for migratory birds. The town itself has limited services and no beachfront development. Most travellers use it as a brief stop on the way to São José do Norte or as a base for birding.
- Country
- Brazil
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- Avoid
- Jun–Aug (cold, windy), Jan–Feb (crowded with Brazilian holidaymakers)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- BRL
- Money
- Currency is the Brazilian real (BRL, R$). About R$5–5.8 per US dollar in 2026 — check. Cards and tap-to-pay are accepted almost everywhere, even at beach kiosks.
- Daily spend
- Budget R$120–180 excl. bed · Mid R$180–300 excl. bed · High R$300+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Vivo, Claro and TIM cover the country; buying a prepaid SIM needs a passport and sometimes a CPF — an eSIM before you fly is easier.
- Emergency
- Police 190 · Ambulance 192 · Fire 193
- Plugs
- Types N, C · 127 V (Rio, São Paulo) or 220 V (Brasília, much of the Northeast) · Check the voltage on the socket; most chargers are dual-voltage.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: 10% service (serviço) usually on the bill; optional but normal.; Beach kiosk / bar: Often included; round up.; Taxi / Uber: Not expected; round up.; Guide: US$5–15 per person per day.; Hotel staff: Small tip for porters.
- Water
- Do not drink tap water; filtered water is provided in most homes and hotels.
- Toilets
- Put toilet paper in the bin, not the toilet, in most places.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Simple meal (prato feito) | R$25–40 |
| Beer (garrafa 600 ml) | R$8–12 |
| Coffee (cafézinho) | R$4–6 |
| Petrol (per litre) | R$6–7 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- POA · Salgado Filho Porto Alegre
- Rent a car at the airport; 2 h drive via RS-040 and BR-101
Typical fares
- Porto Alegre → Mostardas (car, 170 km)
- about 2 h, tolls about R$20 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Car essential. The town is walkable but the lighthouses and the national park are 10–30 km (6.2–19 mi) away on unpaved roads. No public transport within the municipality.Car essential. The town is walkable but the lighthouses and the national park are 6.2–19 mi (10–30 km) away on unpaved roads. No public transport within the municipality.
See and do
Known for
- Lagoa do Peixe National Park
- 19th-century lighthouses
- Quiet coastal scenery
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Lagoa do Peixe National Park | Car, 15 km (9.3 mi) east of town on unpaved roadCar, 9.3 mi (15 km) east of town on unpaved road | 20 min |
| Capão da Marca Lighthouse | Car, about 45 km (28 mi) south on BR-101 then unpavedCar, about 28 mi (45 km) south on BR-101 then unpaved | 50 min |
| São José do Norte | Car, 70 km (43 mi) south on BR-101Car, 43 mi (70 km) south on BR-101 | 1 h |
Sleep
- Town centre
- A few pousadas and guesthouses; basic, quiet.
- Near Lagoa do Peixe
- Rustic lodges and campsites for birders; check ahead.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Oláoh-LAH |
| Thank you | Obrigadooh-bree-GAH-doo |
| How much? | Quanto custa?KWAN-too KOOS-tah |
| Where is the park entrance? | Onde fica a entrada do parque?ON-jee FEE-kah ah en-TRAH-dah doo PAR-kee |
| Do you have a room? | Tem quarto?teng KWAR-too |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake, hug or cheek kiss (one in São Paulo, two in Rio); avoid: Being stiff with new acquaintances
- Gestures: Use thumbs-up freely; avoid: The OK hand sign (it is rude)
- Language: Try Portuguese; say obrigado/obrigada; avoid: Defaulting to Spanish
- Time: Expect relaxed social punctuality; avoid: Being late for tours and flights
- Beach: Bring only a towel, cash and a copy of your ID; avoid: Leaving things unattended
Scams and watch-outs
- Unpaved roads to the lighthouses and park entrance: a 4x4 or at least a high-clearance car is recommended after rain.
- No ATM in town: bring cash from Porto Alegre or Osório.
- Lagoa do Peixe National Park has no visitor centre or marked trails: download offline maps.
- Mosquitoes are heavy near the lagoon, especially at dusk.
Very safe town; the main risks are road conditions on unpaved tracks and mosquito-borne diseases near the lagoon. Bring repellent and a first-aid kit.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Mostardas yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Lagoa do Peixe National Park
- 19th-century lighthouses
- Quiet coastal scenery
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Mostardas, revision 5093402 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5093402
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/mostardas). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.